As Greater Lincolnshire moves towards electing its first mayor, six candidates make their final appeals to the community. Voters from Scunthorpe to Spalding, and Grantham to Grimsby, are preparing to cast their votes on Thursday, May 1, to select a leader for the newly-formed Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority. This authority includes the areas governed by Lincolnshire County Council, North Lincolnshire Council, and North East Lincolnshire Council, signalling a fresh chapter in local governance.
Sally Horscroft, a representative of the Green Party, supports the pursuit of sustainable futures, with a focus on green technology and agriculture. She champions equal opportunities and is committed to addressing Lincolnshire’s long-term shortage of funding from Westminster. On the other hand, Andrea Jenkyns of Reform UK has promised to mend Lincolnshire’s potholes, enhance public services, and lower housing costs. She has also pledged to ensure the county obtains its deserved portion of funding from the UK government.
Marianne Overton, representing the Lincolnshire Independents, proposes herself as an unbiased choice. By drawing from her experience of leadership among independent councillors and advocating against the establishment of solar farms on agricultural land, she hopes to gain the voters’ trust. Jason Stockwood from the Labour Party, being a native of Grimsby, looks to utilise his business expertise in creating jobs, elevating infrastructure and advancing public services.
Rob Waltham, the Conservative candidate, speaks of local pride and aspiration. He encourages autonomous decision making and enhancement of local infrastructure. Lastly, Trevor Young from the Liberal Democrats has a mission of bringing Lincolnshire to national prominence. His plans include addressing the cost of living crisis and opposing changes that may cause harm to local farmer communities.
Each candidate brings their own vision for Greater Lincolnshire, heralding promising transformative leadership for the area’s future. This report is based on original reporting which can be found on www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
